Camp Butler 16 Sep 61

 

Friend Mate

                        Your welcome letter just came to hand I wrote you a few days ago hoping to hear from you before leaving here. We are having midling good time a good camp our captain has been promoted to Major and we had a happy time electing a new one There is a boy in the next mess from Watertown we talk over old times you can reckon Expect to be ordered from here soon but I can have letters forwared as the Sutler is an old friend 

 

We have bread potatoes beef sugar molasses tea vinegar soap candles clothes plenty and as soon as our officers get broke in we will do well. I would like a paper from Louiville and will send you the Springfield papers if you wish

 

Our sutler was broken into night before last and I was put out after the fellows. we chased them away down the prairie when a friend & I got ahead of the others & four of them ordered us to halt we charged bayonetts and they broke & dropped a keg of tobaco. I fired my revolver over their heads and if they dident git then I wouldent say. 

 

I intend to come East as soon as I get out and hope to find you all right bye the bye who directed that letter it looked marvelously like a fine hand. How about the women old Fell

 

I had a long letter from my paw and must answer and I am on duty at noon.

 

Give my respect to the boys and write soon

 

            If you see Fannie tell her to write me before we leave here

 

I will try to keep you posted and hope to hear from you often

 

                                                                                    Good bye old Boy

 

                                                                                    Yours Truly

                                                                                                Howard Harding

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